Big Apple Airline (New York Air nickname, 1980-1987)
New York Air was a low-cost airline, based at based at Hangar 5 at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York, that operated from 1980 to 1987. It was sometimes called the “Big Apple Airline” because the airplanes were bright red, with an apple logo on the tail section.
“New York Air (they call themselves the ‘Big Apple’ airline)” was printed in The Sunday News (Ridgewood, NJ) on June 2, 1985. “The aircraft were painted bright red and had a clever apple painted on the side as a shout out to the ‘Big Apple.’ You couldn’t help but think of the gaudy Big Apple at Shea Stadium when you saw that tail” was printed in Avgeekery.com on December 23, 2016. “Because of the bright red paint schemes of its aircraft and the stylized apple logos on their vertical tails, it was sometimes referred to as ‘the big apple airline’” was printed in Metropolitan Airport News on August 8, 2023.
Wikipedia: New York Air
New York Air was a low-cost airline in the United States owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at Hangar 5 at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York. It ceased operations on February 1, 1987, in a merger with Continental Airlines.
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ALPA soon began a full-scale campaign with the intention of preventing New York Air from growing as a non-union airline. In July 1981, ALPA set up what it called a ‘political campaign-style operation’, with a call centre and volunteers mailing informational material, against the airline. Leaflets and brochures were created, describing New York Air as ‘Texas Air’s Bad Apple’ (a play on New York’s ‘Big Apple’ nickname, and referencing the apple icon in New York Air’s logo), and containing damning statistics about the airline, such as its poor on-time record and reputation for overbooked flights. Badges with printed ‘Please Don’t Fly New York Air’ titles on them were also produced. The materials used an edited version of the New York Air logo with a rotten apple.
Newspapers.com
3 March 1985, The Sunday News (Ridgewood, NJ), “Travel” by H. V. “Pat” Reilly, pg. 57, col. 5:
We flew to Orlando on New York Air from Newark International Airport. The airline flies bright red DC-9 jetliners with a “Big Apple” logo emblazoned on their tail.
Newspapers.com
2 June 1985, The Sunday News (Ridgewood, NJ), “Travel” by H. V. “Pat” Reilly, pg. 64, col. 1:
As an alternative, I called a friend with New York Air (they call themselves the “Big Apple” airline) and he arranged for me to fly to Orlando,
Avgeekery.com
#AncientAirlines: New York Air Had Attitude, Grew Quickly, Then Folded
DECEMBER 23, 2016 AVGEEKERY
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The airline operated the mighty Douglas DC 9, a few McDonnell Douglas MD-82s, and 737-300s. The aircraft were painted bright red and had a clever apple painted on the side as a shout out to the “Big Apple.” You couldn’t help but think of the gaudy Big Apple at Shea Stadium when you saw that tail.
X/Twitter
Carla
@cj27e
New York Air aka The Big Apple
(An airplane is shown.—ed.)
7:57 PM · Jan 11, 2023
Metropolitan Airport News
New York Air: The Big Apple Airline
BY ROBERT G. WALDVOGEL AUGUST 8, 2023
Some airlines reflect their country, state, geographical region, and even airport of origin in their names. One reflected its city in both name and logo: New York Air, brainchild of Frank D. Lorenzo.
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Because of the bright red paint schemes of its aircraft and the stylized apple logos on their vertical tails, it was sometimes referred to as “the big apple airline.” But not everyone viewed this shiny red apple in a positive light. Some found it rotten to the core.
X/Twitter
Airways Magazine
@airwaysmagazine
New York Air took to the skies on this day in 1980 in a bid to break the Eastern Airlines Shuttle monopoly on routes from the “Big Apple”.
https://airwaysmag.com/new-york-air-commences-operations/
7:11 AM · Dec 19, 2023